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US5658011A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Air bag apparatus of a tire's air pressure sensing system for a vehicle

Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1995-12-27
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Granted: 1997-08-19
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Expires: 2015-12-27
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Abstract

Abstract An air bag apparatus in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle capable of reliably protecting passengers of the vehicle from accidents regardless of the pattern of the accident which includes a collision sensing section, a pressure sensing section, a receiving section, an Electronic Control Unit, a warning section and an air bag actuating section. The collision sensing sections has first and second collision sensors, and pressure sensing section has pressure sensors and radio transmitters. The warning section has sound and visual warning units, and air bag actuating section has an inflatable air bag and an inflator. Here, the air bag is operated when the first collision sensors monitor the shock at least a first shock value, or the second collision sensors monitor the shock at least the second shock value while the pressure sensors monitor a pressure below a pressure value presented by a no-load state of an air pressure in the tire.

Inventors

  • 👤 Sung-Kwang Byon

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 17:16
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60C; B60C23/00; B60C23/02; B60C23/04; B60C23/0408; B60C23/0422; B60C23/0433; B60C23/0474; B60C23/0477; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0013; B60R2021/01306

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 219 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle, said air bag apparatus comprising: a collision sensing section for generating a first collision sensing signal when a shock applied to at least one of a front, rear, right side and left side portion of the vehicle exceeds a first shock value, and for generating a second collision sensing signal when a shock applied to at least one of the right side, left side and upper portion of the vehicle exceeds a second shock value; a pressure sensing section for generating a pressure sensing signal when the air pressure of a vehicle tire is below a predetermined value; an electronic control unit for generating an air bag expansion triggering signal when receiving the first collision sensing signal, for generating the air bag expansion triggering signal when receiving both the second collision sensing signal and the pressure sensing signal, and for generating a warning operation start signal when receiving either the second collision sensing signal or the pressure sensing signal; a warning section for alerting in accordance with the warning operation start signal from said electronic control unit; and an air bag actuating section for expanding an air bag of the vehicle in accordance with the air bag expansion triggering signal from said electronic control unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 219 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle, said air bag apparatus comprising: a collision sensing section for generating a first collision sensing signal when a shock applied to at least one of a front, rear, right side and left side portion of the vehicle exceeds a first shock value, and for generating a second collision sensing signal when a shock applied to at least one of the right side, left side and upper portion of the vehicle exceeds a second shock value; a pressure sensing section for generating a pressure sensing signal when the air pressure of a vehicle tire is below a predetermined value; an electronic control unit for generating an air bag expansion triggering signal when receiving the first collision sensing signal, for generating the air bag expansion triggering signal when receiving both the second collision sensing signal and the pressure sensing signal, and for generating a warning operation start signal when receiving either the second collision sensing signal or the pressure sensing signal; a warning section for alerting in accordance with the warning operation start signal from said electronic control unit; and an air bag actuating section for expanding an air bag of the vehicle in accordance with the air bag expansion triggering signal from said electronic control unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 60 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure sensing section transmits the pressure sensing signal as a radio signal, and said air bag apparatus further comprises a receiving section for receiving the pressure sensing signal to transmit the pressure sensing signal to said electronic control unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first shock value is greater than the second shock value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 47 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first shock value has a minimum value required for inflating the air bag to protect passengers of the vehicle from a predetermined shock applied to the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 49 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second shock value has a minimum value required for inflating said air bag to protect the passengers of the vehicle from the shock lower than the first shock value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 45 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said collision sensing section comprises first collision sensors for generating the first collision sensing signal, and second collision sensors for generating the second collision sensing signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 43 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first collision sensors are mounted on at least one place among the front, rear, right side and left side portions of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 37 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second collision sensors are mounted on the left side, right side and upper portions of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined value has a pressure value produced when the air pressure of the vehicle tire is on a no-load state.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 56 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure sensing section comprises pressure sensors for monitoring the air pressure and radio transmitter means for amplifying the pressure sensing signal monitored by said pressure sensors to transmit the pressure sensing signal as a radio signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein said pressure sensing section is mounted at at least one tire of the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 38 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein said pressure sensing section is mounted around an aperture of a tire for injecting air into the tire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 27 words
An air bag apparatus of in a tire pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said warning section comprises sound warning means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 27 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein said sound warning means is a speaker.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein said sound warning means is a klaxon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 27 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said warning section comprises visual warning means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 28 words
An air bag apparatus of in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein said visual warning means is a display.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 59 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air bag actuating section comprises said air bag and an inflator for injecting an inflation gas into said air bag to inflate said air bag when receiving the air bag expansion triggering signal from said electronic control unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 330 words
An air bag apparatus of in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle, said air bag apparatus comprising: a collision sensing section having first collision sensors for generating a first collision sensing signal when a shock applied to at least one of a front, rear, right side and left side portion of the vehicle exceeds a first shock value, and second collision sensors for generating a second collision sensing signal when a shock applied to at least one of the right side, left side and upper portion of the vehicle exceeds a second shock value; a pressure sensing section mounted at at least one tire of the vehicle for generating a pressure sensing signal when the air pressure of vehicle tire is below a pressure value presented by a no-load state of an air pressure in the tire, said pressure sensing section having pressure sensors for monitoring the air pressure and radio transmitter means for amplifying the pressure sensing signal monitored by said pressure sensors to transmit the pressure sensing signal as a radio signal; a receiving section for receiving the pressure sensing signal transmitted from said pressure sensing section as the radio signal; an electronic control unit for generating an air bag expansion triggering signal either when receiving said first collision sensing signal or when receiving said second sensing signal from said second collision sensors and the pressure sensing signal from said receiving section, and for generating a warning operation start signal when receiving either the second collision sensing signal or the pressure sensing signal; a warning section having sound warning means and visual warning means for alerting via a sound and visible characters in accordance with the warning operation start signal from said electronic control unit; and an air bag actuating section having said air bag and an inflator for injecting an inflation gas into said air bag to inflate said air bag when receiving said air bag expansion triggering signal from said electronic control unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 330 words
An air bag apparatus of in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle, said air bag apparatus comprising: a collision sensing section having first collision sensors for generating a first collision sensing signal when a shock applied to at least one of a front, rear, right side and left side portion of the vehicle exceeds a first shock value, and second collision sensors for generating a second collision sensing signal when a shock applied to at least one of the right side, left side and upper portion of the vehicle exceeds a second shock value; a pressure sensing section mounted at at least one tire of the vehicle for generating a pressure sensing signal when the air pressure of vehicle tire is below a pressure value presented by a no-load state of an air pressure in the tire, said pressure sensing section having pressure sensors for monitoring the air pressure and radio transmitter means for amplifying the pressure sensing signal monitored by said pressure sensors to transmit the pressure sensing signal as a radio signal; a receiving section for receiving the pressure sensing signal transmitted from said pressure sensing section as the radio signal; an electronic control unit for generating an air bag expansion triggering signal either when receiving said first collision sensing signal or when receiving said second sensing signal from said second collision sensors and the pressure sensing signal from said receiving section, and for generating a warning operation start signal when receiving either the second collision sensing signal or the pressure sensing signal; a warning section having sound warning means and visual warning means for alerting via a sound and visible characters in accordance with the warning operation start signal from said electronic control unit; and an air bag actuating section having said air bag and an inflator for injecting an inflation gas into said air bag to inflate said air bag when receiving said air bag expansion triggering signal from said electronic control unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 468 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle, said air bag apparatus comprising: a collision sensing section for generating a first collision sensing signal when a shock applied to at least one of the front, rear, right side and left side portion of the vehicle exceeds a first shock value, for generating a second collision sensing signal when a shock applied to at least one of the right side, left side and upper portion of the vehicle exceeds a second shock value, and the first shock value is greater than the second shock value, the first shock value having a minimum value required for inflating said air bag to protect passengers of the vehicle from a predetermined shock applied to the vehicle, the second shock value having the minimum value required for inflating said air bag to protect the passengers of the vehicle from the shock lower than the first shock value, said collision sensing section having first collision sensors for generating the first collision sensing signal and second collision sensors for generating the second collision sensing signal, said first collision sensors being mounted at at least one place among the front, rear, right side and left side portions of the vehicle, and said second collision sensors being mounted at the left side, right side and upper portions of the vehicle; a pressure sensing section mounted around an aperture for injecting air into a tire of the vehicle for generating a pressure sensing signal when the air pressure of the vehicle tire is below a pressure value presented by a no-load state of an air pressure in the tire, and having pressure sensors for monitoring the air pressure and radio transmitter means for amplifying the pressure sensing signal monitored by said pressure sensors to transmit the pressure sensing signal as a radio signal; a receiving section for receiving the pressure sensing signal transmitted from said pressure sensing section as the radio signal; an electronic control unit for generating an air bag expansion triggering signal when receiving the first collision sensing signal, for generating the air bag expansion triggering signal when receiving the second sensing signal from said second collision sensors and the pressure sensing signal from said receiving section, and for generating a warning operation start signal when receiving either the second collision sensing signal or the pressure sensing signal; a warning section having sound warning means and visual warning means, for alerting via a sound and visible characters in accordance with said warning operation start signal from said electronic control unit; and an air bag actuating section having said air bag and an inflator for injecting an inflation gas into said air bag to inflate said air bag when receiving said air bag expansion triggering signal from said electronic control unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 468 words
An air bag apparatus in a tire air pressure sensing system for a vehicle, said air bag apparatus comprising: a collision sensing section for generating a first collision sensing signal when a shock applied to at least one of the front, rear, right side and left side portion of the vehicle exceeds a first shock value, for generating a second collision sensing signal when a shock applied to at least one of the right side, left side and upper portion of the vehicle exceeds a second shock value, and the first shock value is greater than the second shock value, the first shock value having a minimum value required for inflating said air bag to protect passengers of the vehicle from a predetermined shock applied to the vehicle, the second shock value having the minimum value required for inflating said air bag to protect the passengers of the vehicle from the shock lower than the first shock value, said collision sensing section having first collision sensors for generating the first collision sensing signal and second collision sensors for generating the second collision sensing signal, said first collision sensors being mounted at at least one place among the front, rear, right side and left side portions of the vehicle, and said second collision sensors being mounted at the left side, right side and upper portions of the vehicle; a pressure sensing section mounted around an aperture for injecting air into a tire of the vehicle for generating a pressure sensing signal when the air pressure of the vehicle tire is below a pressure value presented by a no-load state of an air pressure in the tire, and having pressure sensors for monitoring the air pressure and radio transmitter means for amplifying the pressure sensing signal monitored by said pressure sensors to transmit the pressure sensing signal as a radio signal; a receiving section for receiving the pressure sensing signal transmitted from said pressure sensing section as the radio signal; an electronic control unit for generating an air bag expansion triggering signal when receiving the first collision sensing signal, for generating the air bag expansion triggering signal when receiving the second sensing signal from said second collision sensors and the pressure sensing signal from said receiving section, and for generating a warning operation start signal when receiving either the second collision sensing signal or the pressure sensing signal; a warning section having sound warning means and visual warning means, for alerting via a sound and visible characters in accordance with said warning operation start signal from said electronic control unit; and an air bag actuating section having said air bag and an inflator for injecting an inflation gas into said air bag to inflate said air bag when receiving said air bag expansion triggering signal from said electronic control unit.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5289160A Cited
US5581464A Cited
US5581464B1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-08-18 2001-02-17 2001-08-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-08-18 2005-02-17 2005-08-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-08-18 2009-02-17 2009-08-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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